Grapple I
At first glance, Grapple appears to be a festive bunting suitable for afternoon tea. Instead, it’s a sobering memorial to those killed by gun violence in the United States. I have included victims of so-called mass murders, those in which four or more people are killed. It does not include those injured nor does it include the perpetrator.
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School and killed twelve students and one teacher before then committing suicide. The news rocked the nation. As more and more mass murders took place, I struggled to understand what was happening and, in 2019, I created Grapple as a way of memorializing the victims.
Grapple is made of well over 1,500 yellow ribbons, the kind you get for an award. For hundreds of years, yellow has been a symbol of love and hope for the safe return of military personnel; those in combat, missing in action, or prisoners of war. Yellow ribbons also signify suicide awareness, significant, in that many mass murderers end up taking their own lives.
I research individual shootings to try to figure out who was killed, where and when. I check out published lists and compare notes. There is always conflicting information. Names are spelled differently, ages vary, sometimes victims go unnamed. I do my best to accurately identify the victims and I apologize in advance for any errors or omissions.
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Each ribbon lists the name and age of the victim as well the date they were murdered. I created a code for where the murder took place. The key to the code can be found in the list below.
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2023
PH-PA (5) Philadelphia, PA July 3, 2023
ID-K (4) Kellogg, ID June 18, 2023
T-SEQ (5) Sequatchie, TN June 15, 2023
T-TEX (4) Texarkana, TX May 23, 2023
T-ALL (8) Allen, TX May 6, 2023
FL-LW (4) Lake Wales, FL May 2, 2023
OK-H (6) Henryetta, OK April 30, 2023
C-MOJ (4) Mojave, CA April 30, 2023
TEX-C (5) Cleveland, TX April 28, 2023
M-BOW (4) Bowdoin, ME April 18, 2023
AL-DA (4) Dadeville, AL April 15, 2023
K-LOU (5) Louisville, KY April 10, 2023
T-NASH (6) Nashville, TN March 27, 2023
SC-SUM (4) Sumter, SC March 21, 2023
AL-BIR (4) Birmingham, AL March 14, 2023
T-DAL (4) Dalles, TX March 12, 2023
FL-HI (4) Hialeah, FL March 10, 2023
FL-CO (4) Cocoa, FL March 1, 2023
MI-CO (6) Coldwater, MS February 17, 2023
T-LUT (4) Luttrell, TN January 29, 2023
C-HMB (7) Half Moon Bay, CA January 23, 2023
C-MPK (11) Monterey Park, CA January 21, 2023
C-GOS (6) Goshen, CA January 16, 2023
OH-CL (4) Cleveland, OH January 13, 2023
NC-HP (4) High Point, NC January 7, 2023
UCC (7) Cedar City, UT January 4, 2023
2022
VIR-CH (6) Chesapeake, VA November 22, 2022
OK-HEN (4) Hennessey, OK November 20, 2022
COL-CS (5) Colorado Springs, CO November 19, 2022
V-RIC (4) Richmond, VA November 18, 2022
FL-OR (4) Orlando, FL November 4, 2022
M-LP (4) La Plata, MD November 4, 2022
COL-AU (4) Aurora, CO October 30, 2022
OK-BA (7) Broken Arrow, OK October 27, 2022
WIS-H (4) Hartland, WI October 21, 2022
VIR-WO (4) Woodbridge, VA October 17, 2022
NC-R (5) Raleigh, NC October 13, 2022
SC-IN (5) Inman, SC October 9, 2022
OK-HEN (4) Henryetta, OK October 9, 2022
TX-FW (4) Fort Worth, TX October 7, 2022
T-BAY (4) Baytown, TX October 5, 2022
T-MCG (5) McGregor, TX September 29, 2022
MD-EM (4) Elk Mills, MD September 9, 2022
OH-DAY (4) Dayton, OH August 5, 2022
NEB-LA (4) Laurel, NE August 4, 2022
F-ORL (4) Orlando, FL August 2, 2022
TX-HOU (4) Houston, TX July 16, 2022
ILL-HP (7) Highland Park, IL July 4, 2022
VIR-P (4) Portsmouth, VA June 7, 2022
TX-CV (5) Centerville, TX June 2, 2022
OK-TUL (4) Tulsa, OK June 1, 2022
MI-ST (4) Stanwood, MI May 27, 2022
UVALDE (21) Uvalde, TX May 24, 2022
NY-TOPS (10) Buffalo, NY May 14, 2022
MI-BI (4) Biloxi, MI April 27, 2022
AR-MV (4) Mountain View, AR April 21, 2022
MN-DU (4) Duluth, MN April 20, 2022
CA-SA (6) Sacramento, CA April 3, 2022
C-SAC (4) Sacramento, CA February 28, 2022
TX-CO (7) Corsicana, TX February 5, 2022
C-ING (4) Inglewood, CA January 23, 2022
W-MIL (6) Milwaukee, MN January 23, 2022
2021
CO-DEV (5) Denver, CO December 27, 2021
MI-OX (4) Oxford, MI November 30, 2021
CA-LAN (5) Lancaster, CA November 28, 2021
W-TAC (4) Tacoma, WA October 21, 2021
MI-FA (4) Farwell, MI October 20, 2021
T-ATH (4) Athens, TN September 25, 2021
MN-SP (4) Saint Paul, MN September 12, 2021
TX-H (4) Houston, TX September 5, 2021
FL-LA (4) Lakeland, FL September 5, 2021
CA-WA (4) Wasco, CA July 25, 2021
TX-JA (4) Jacksonville, TX July 20, 2021
ILL-C (5) Chicago, ILL June 5, 2021
POPH (4) Portland, OR June 6, 2021
SJCA (9) San Jose, CA May 26, 2021
O-WJ (4) West Jefferson, OH May 24, 2021
CS (6) Colorado Springs, CO May 9, 2021
NC-B (4) Boone, NC April 28, 2021
IFE (8) Indianapolis, IN April 15, 2021
RH (6) Rock, Hill, SC April 7, 2021
AT (4) Allen, TX April 3, 2021
OCA (4) Orange, CA March 31, 2021
B (4) Boone, NC March 28, 2021
BCM (4) Baltimore, MD March 28, 2021
BCO (10) Boulder, CO March 22, 2021
AGA (8) Atlanta, GA March 16, 2021
IN-IN (4) Indianapolis, IN March 13, 2021
MOK (6) Muskogee, OK February 2, 2021
I-IND (5) Indianapolis, IN January 24, 2021
CHP (5) Chicago, IL January 9, 2021
2020
AR-AT (4) Atkins, AR December 25, 2020
MI-ME (4) Meridian, MS December 22, 2020
WV-EL (4) Elkview, WV December 13, 2020
WV-WI (5) Williamsburg, WV December 8, 2020
AL-PA (4) Palmer, AK November 30, 2020
C-AGU (7) Aguanga, CA September 7, 2020
MI-BE (4) Belleville, MI August 15, 2020
O-ELY (4) Elyria, OH July 29, 2020
MI-DE (4) Detroit, MI July 19, 2020
NJ-PAT (4) Paterson, NJ July 7, 2020
ILL-CH (4) Chicago, IL July 4, 2020
CNC (4) Charlotte, NC June 22, 2020
MLA (5) Monroe, LA June 11, 2020
AL-VS (7) Valhermoso Springs, AL June 4, 2020
WI-MI (5) Milwaukee, WI April 27, 2020
NC-MON (6) Moncure, NC March 15, 2020
SMO (4) Springfield, MO March 15, 2020
MW (5) Milwaukee, WI February 26, 2020
IND-IND (4) Indianapolis, IN February 5, 2020
NC-Van (4) Vanceboro, NC January 24, 2020
UT-GR (4) Grantsville, UT January 17, 2020
2019
JC (4) Jersey City, NJ December 10, 2019
FCA (4) Fresno, CA November 17, 2019
CAL-SD (5) San Diego, CA November 16, 2019
OCA (5) Orinda, CA October 31, 2019
PE-PH (4) Philadelphia, PA October 30, 2019
IL-CHI (5) Chicago, IL October 12, 2019
MA-AB (4) Abington, MA October 7, 2019
KSK (4) Kansas City, KS October 6, 2019
TX-BE (4) Beaumont, TX September 29, 2019
O-CLE (4) Cleveland, OH September 21, 2019
NM-ALB (4) Albuquerque, NM September 12, 2019
AL-ELK (5) Elkmont, AL September 2, 2019
OT (7) Odessa, TX August 31, 2019
D (9) Dayton, OH August 4, 2019
EP (23) El Paso, TX August 3, 2019
WI-CF (4) Chippewa Falls, WI July 28, 2019
LACA (4) Los Angeles, CA July 25, 2019
MI-STL (5) St. Louis, MO July 6, 2019
CAL-SJ (4) San Jose, CA June 23, 2019
WWS (5) White Swan, WA June 8, 2019
VB (12) Virginia Beach, VA May 31, 2019
MI-SALO (4) St. Louis MO May 13, 2019
O-WCH (4) West Chester, OH April 28, 2019
MI-CL (4) Clinton, MI February 16, 2019
AIL (5) Aurora, IL February 15, 2019
TX-LIV (4) Livingston, TX February 11, 2019
PSCA (4) Palm Springs, CA February 3, 2019
LO-GO (5) Gonzales LA January 26, 20019
GE-RO (4) Rockmart, GA January 24, 2019
SFL (5) Sebring, FL January 23, 2019
2018
TOC (12) Thousand Oaks, CA November 7, 2018
TOLS (11) Pittsburg, PA October 27, 2018
BCA (5) Bakersfield, CA September 12, 2018
AMD (5) Annapolis, MD June 28, 2018
SFHS (10) Santa Fe, TX May 18, 2018
ATN (4) Antioch, TN April 22, 2018
YNT-CA (5) Yountville, CA March 19, 2018
MSD (17) Parkland, FL February 14, 2018
MPA (4) Melcroft, PA January 28, 2018
2017
RTCA (5) Rancho Tehama, CA November 14, 2017
SSTX (24) Sutherland Springs, TX November 5, 2017
LV (60) Las Vegas, NV October 1, 2017
PLO-TX (8) Plano, TX September 10, 2017
ANM (5) Abiquiu, NM June 15, 2017
OFL (5) Orlando, FL June 5, 2017
LC-MS (8) Lincoln Co., MS May 27, 2017
RWI (4) Rothschild, WI March 22, 2017
YCM (4) Yazoo City, MS February 6, 2017
FLFL (5) Fort Lauderdale, FL January 6, 2017
2016
BW (5) Burlington, WA September 23, 2016
CIT-AL (6) Citronelle, AL August 20, 2016
DTX (5) Dallas, TX July 7, 2016
LVW (4) Las Vegas, NV June 29, 2016
PN (49) Orlando, FL June 12, 2016
WPA (7) Wilkinsburg, PA March 9, 2016
KC-KA (5) Kansas City, KS March 7, 2016
KM (6) Kalamazoo, MI February 20, 2016
2015
SBC (14) San Bernadino, CA December 2, 2015
ACTX (6) Anderson Co., TX November 15, 2015
RO (9) Roseburg, OR October 1, 2015
HC-TX (8) Harris Co, TX August 8, 2015
CTN (5) Chattanooga, TN July 16, 2015
CSC (9) Charleston, SC June 17, 2015
WC-TX (9) Waco, TX May 17, 2015
T-MO (8) Tyrone, MO February 26, 2015
2014
MW (4) Marysville, WA October 24, 2014
SP-TX (6) Spring, TX July 9, 2014
IVC (6) Isla Vista, CA May 23, 2014
ACA (4) Alturas, CA February 20, 2014
2013
WDC (12) Washington, D. C. September 16, 2013
HFL (6) Hialeah, FL July 26, 2013
SMC (5) Santa Monica, CA June 7, 2013
FWW (4) Federal Way, WA April 21, 2013
HNY (4) Herkimer, NY March 13, 2013
SV-NM (5) South Valley, NM January 19, 2013
2012
SH (27) Newtown, CT December 14, 2012
MMN (6) Minneapolis, MN September 27, 2012
OCW (7) Oak Creek, WI August 5, 2012
ACO (12) Aurora, CO July 20, 2012
SCR (5) Seattle, WA May 30, 2012
G-AZ (4) Gilbert, AZ May 2, 2012
OOU (7) Oakland, CA April 2, 2012
NGA (4) Norcross, GA February 1, 2012
2011
SBSM (8) Seal Beach, CA October 12, 2011
CCNV (4) Carson, City, NV September 6, 2011
CT-OH (7) Copley Twp., OH August 7, 2011
GPTX (5) Grand Prairie, TX July 23, 2011
GR-MI (8) Grand Rapids, MI July 7, 2011
YA (5) Yuma, AZ June 2, 2011
TA (6) Tucson, AZ January 8, 2011
2010
BNY (4) Buffalo, NY August 14, 2010
MCN (8) Manchester, CT August 3, 2010
HFY (4) Hialeah, FL June 6, 2010
LAHS (4) Los Angeles, CA April 3, 2010
APP-VA (8) Appomattox, VA January 19, 2010
2009
PWPC (4) Parkland, WA November 29, 2009
P-AZ (5) Pearcy, AZ November 12, 2009
FHTX (13) Fort Hood, TX November 5, 2009
MANC (4) Mount Airy, NC November 1, 2009
BIS (13) Binghamton, NY April 3, 2009
CPH (8) Carthage, NC March 29, 2009
GS-AL Geneva & Samson, AL March 10. 2009
2008
CO-CA Coving, CA December 24, 2008
AWSC (6) Alger, WA September 2, 2008
HKAP (5) Henderson, KY June 25, 2008
SMBRA (4) Santa Monica, CA March 18, 2008
DINIU (5) Dekalb, IL February 14, 2008
KMDCC (6) Kirkwood, MO February 7, 2008
TP-IL Tinley Park, IL February 2, 2008
C-MD Cockeyville, MD February 1, 2008
2007
CAR-WA Carnation, WA December 24, 2007
YWMNLC (9) Colorado Springs, CO December 9, 2007
OWM (8) Omaha, NE December 5, 2007
B-IA Bonaparte, IA October 14, 2007
CWSCP (6) Crandon, WI October 7, 2007
JO-IN Joliet, IN June 14, 2007
VT (32) Blacksburg, VA April 16, 2007
SLC (5) Salt Lake City UT February 12, 2007
2006
WNMAS (5) Nickel Mines, PA October 2, 2006
IND-IN (7) Indianapolis, IN June 1, 2006
BR (5) Baton Rouge, LA May 21, 2006
SCH (6) Seattle, WA March 25, 2006
GCA (7) Goleta, CA January 30, 2006
2005
SAG (4) Sash, TX August 29, 2005
OC-OK (4) Oklahoma City, OK May 30, 2005
RLIR (9) Red Lake, MN March 21, 2005
BLCG (7) Brookfield, WI March 12, 2005
AFCC (4) Atlanta, GA March 11, 2005
2004
COAV (4) Columbus, OH December 8, 2004
BWSC (6) Birchwood, WI November 21, 2004
KCA (5) Kansas City, KS July 3, 2004
MCK-TX (4) McKinney, TX March 12, 2004
FRS-CA (9) Fresno, CA March 12, 2004
2003
CH-SC (4) Chesnee, SC November 6, 2003
OIST (4) Oldtown, ID October 24, 2003
CWCCS (6) Chicago, IL August 27, 2003
CLC-TX (4) Clear Lake City, TX July 18, 2003
MMLM (6) Meridian, MI July 8, 2003
2002
SBBP (4) South Bend, IN March 22, 2002
2001
SBIS (5) Sacramento, CA September 10, 2001
RCBRV (4) Rifle, CO July 3, 2001
MPNI (4) Melrose Park, IL February 5, 2001
2000
PHL-PA (7) Philadelphia, PA December 28, 2000
WMET (7) Wakefield, MA December 26, 2000
NY-NY (5) New York, NY May 24, 2000
PLM (5) Pittsburg, PA April 28, 2000
ITMTF (5) Irving, TX March 20, 2000
1999
TRBH (5) Tampa, FL December 30, 1999
HHXE (7) Honolulu, HI November 2, 1999
FWWBC (7) Fort Worth, TX September 15, 1999
AMS (12) Atlanta, GA July 29, 1999
LVAS (4) Las Vegas, NV June 3, 1999
C (13) Columbine, CO April 20, 1999